Eastern Rengma funeral monument

B&W photographic print. 'It consists of a rough semicircular stone platform built beside a village path so that the spirit of the dead man will watch over and bless the crops and those who cultivate the fields. On it is built a tiny house which contains samples of every kind of edible grain. Fro...

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Date(s) of creation: [1919-1937]
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
URL: http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA004967
URL Description: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections

Summary: B&W photographic print. 'It consists of a rough semicircular stone platform built beside a village path so that the spirit of the dead man will watch over and bless the crops and those who cultivate the fields. On it is built a tiny house which contains samples of every kind of edible grain. From a wooden framework are suspended gourds symbolising the head trophies the deceased has won or helped to get, as well as bundles of taro and edible gourds. In front are stuck in the ground bunches of reeds as a tally of the women with which he has had affairs. These demonstrate his virility in life and the fertility which will therefore be passed on to the village and its crops after his death.'
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
Extent: 1 photograph
Note: Naga (South Asian people)
Ethnic group: Naga
Ethnic group: Eastern Rengma Naga
Ethnic group: Rengma Naga
Ethnic group: Pochuri Naga
Access status: Open
Copyright: Copyright held by J.P. Mills
Language: No linguistic content
Scripts: Unwritten
Physical description: 9.5 x 7 cm
Copies: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections
Format: Archive